By Joe Johnson
An Athens man was arrested for stabbing another man during an argument downtown Friday night.
According to police, the incident occurred at about 7:42 p.m. when 53-year-old Stacy Bernard Smith of Oak Hill Drive got into an argument with Ray Jay, 42, who reportedly is homeless, in front of the Lay-Z-Shopper convenience store on East Clayton Street.
Jay reported that he was walking away but returned to defend a female with whom Smith began to argue, at which time the suspect stabbed him.
Smith reportedly claimed that Jay had punched him in the face, but the entire incident was recorded by a surveillance camera, police said, and its video footage backed up versions of events provided to officers by the victim and a witness.
Smith was taken into custody in the area because he matched witness descriptions of the assailant, and he was arrested for aggravated assault after police viewed the video and located the knife in his possession.
Jay was treated at the scene by National EMS personnel, and Smith was taken to the county jail, where on Monday he remained without bail for his release being granted.